It’s not just that the Tigers are so bad they are now the worst team in the Southeastern Conference. That would be disastrous. This is so much worse.

Auburn is stuck with a coach the fans don’t want, and the players don’t play for. Gus Malzahn was given a seven-year contract extension before this season. The buyout this year is $32 million.

Just hang an albatross atop Toomer’s Corner.

Tennessee 30, Auburn 24 on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium was one of the worst losses in program history relative to the team’s expectations at the beginning of the season. Auburn was ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason and ranked No. 8 two weeks ago. Now, it’s going to be a struggle to reach bowl eligibility.

Before Saturday, Tennessee hadn’t won a game against an SEC opponent since 2016. Things were so bad at Tennessee only a few weeks ago, that Volunteers first-year coach Jeremy Pruitt dismissed a player during the middle of a game, and then let him back on the team. Pruitt walked into Jordan-Hare Stadium, and proceeded to Rocky Stomp Auburn with a bunch of freshmen and a really good punter.

Auburn led 17-13 to begin the third quarter, and its first four drives of the second half began like this: punt, fumble, missed field goal, punt and then that fateful turnover on downs with 6:20 left in the game.

Again, like last week against Mississippi State, there were glimmers of hope. That’s what makes this so frustrating. But when receiver Darius Slayton dropped that would-be touchdown with 8:38 left in the fourth quarter you knew it was over.

It would have been a heartbreaking let down if we hadn’t already seen it all before.

There was still hope, but trailing 30-17 and facing fourth and the season Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham took a sack on the Tennessee 25 yard line. Stidham's regression might be the most damning thing about this season for Malzahn. At what point does Auburn’s ineptitude begin to damage recruiting?

Stidham began the season as one of the nation’s most highly-regarded quarterbacks. He wasn’t even the best quarterback named Jarrett at Jordan-Hare on Saturday. Auburn’s once proud defense allowed 328 yards passing to Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano, whose best game to his point was a win against UTEP.

It’s only going to get worse. Auburn running back Boobee Whitlow left the game with another injury. He injured his shoulder against Southern Miss two weeks ago.

And now the reckoning begins for Malzahn and his toothless Tigers.

Jay Jacobs has already been fired. How will Auburn’s board of trustees and boosters hold Auburn president Steven Leath accountable for such a disastrous contract? Malzahn’s $49 million deal has such a punitive buyout that firing Malzahn doesn’t seem like a realistic option.

Firing offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey doesn’t seem like a solution. Malzahn hired him after he ran off Rhett Lashlee.

What do you do? How do you fix this?

Maybe it’s time for Malzahn to bench Stidham. That might be the best hope for getting to six wins this season. Auburn is sitting on four wins and needs two more victories between these five games: at Ole Miss, vs. Texas A&M, at Georgia, vs. Liberty and at Alabama.

Good luck.

Is a GoFundMe account to buy out Malzahn’s contract out of the question? I’m only halfway kidding, but knowing Auburn fans you can’t rule out anything.

One thing is for sure. The fleecing of Auburn has begun.

Auburn is the most disappointing team in the country this season. Its quarterback passed on the NFL Draft to return to school and chase a national championship and the Heisman Trophy. How far has Stidham dropped in the draft due to these first seven weeks of the season?

The defense was one of the best in the country to begin the season. It all but quit on Malzahn in the fourth quarter.

There is something much worse than anger in Auburn these days. Anger can be channeled. Apathy can set programs back for years.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for the Alabama Media Group. He’s on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.